Space Knights: The Arrival by Gregory Samuelson (buy e reader .TXT) 📕

As the King and Corena played against him and got better so did Trance. All three traded wins and Trance could still beat most of his teammates. Trance’s mind kept track of how everyone played and how they moved the pieces. He didn’t think too much about it, but he did seem to have a knack for figuring out other people’s strategies and finding a way to defeat them. Now with the king joining in and playing, Trance suddenly had a bright idea. “Say, since I’m winning about two thirds of the time, how about you two team up and play against me,” Trance challenged Corena and her father.

The King and Princess looked at him and then at each other and then looked at him and replied, “You’re on!”

It was decided that the royal family would be white and Trance would be black. By this time a fairly large crowd had gathered to watch the game. Zak and Bear came up and sat near Kyle as they watched the game progress. Major Marlett also moved up closer and the more he watched the more he was impressed by Trance’s ability to solve problems and strategize. Trance’s parents watched on proudly and listened to the compliments people said about him. Heather and Sammy sat there and just rolled their eyes.

Trance had beaten his siblings so many times that it was no surprise to them that he was being so successful. They knew he was pretty good, but he seemed to be very good at the moment. Prince Mixim looked on jealously. He thought that he could win against Trance; however, as he watched the game progress he had to admit to himself that he wouldn’t be able to stand the embarrassment of losing to the Earth boy.

As the game progressed Trance found himself explaining the rules again to the gathering crowd so they could have some idea as to what was going on in the game. The royal pair played a very good game, yet somehow Trance managed to win. They played more games; Trance won twice more before being beaten three times in a row. They continued to play off and on. More people got to play as their meals were served. Trance was elated that his game had been such a huge success. Time was just rolling on as they played and they were moving ever closer to getting to their destination.

Soon the planet Caldar was coming into view. In just a few more hours they would be there and everyone would depart and head for their hotels to rest up before going to the end of year tournaments. Many on board had full confidence in their efforts to win at least a couple of top prizes. Most people fully expected Trance to be amazing.

Trance just prayed that he wouldn’t let his team, his family, and mostly Corena down. He didn’t know how the other schools from the other nearby worlds played in their battle games, yet if they were like the competition he’d had already he thought they might have a good chance to win. But there were so many other teams, could he have any success?

He bowed his head humbly and prayed that they have a good time and that nobody got hurt. And yes, he did ask that if possible his team might have some success and a couple victories.

Chapter 19

The Boulthorian Plot

As the Scorpio flew with Trance and his team as well as the royal family toward Caldar for the end of year tournaments, King Axlor sat in his council room on Boulthora. All year he had been sending in more raids on Althora and at the same time sending more arms and knights to his outpost castle there. He had also sent for all of his generals and advisors from their various positions in the galaxy and had been gathering them together for this council. Most importantly he had his son there with him.

Vengethor sat at his father’s right hand. He was rather tall, about six feet four inches, with dark hair and dark brown eyes. His rather young and handsome face was relaxed at the moment, but could reveal a very intelligent and cunning mind. He had returned a month after his father had been briefed by Bazar about the prophecy of the Griffin General, and he had been told that this general was a great threat to them and their plan. He had listened stunned as his father, King Axlor, told him about this new enemy and the Sphinx King’s desire for them to find and eliminate him before he could come to power. He knew that Boulthora was in an alliance with the Sphinx and that this alliance dated back three centuries.

Vengethor had then been sent out with two battalions and three space battleships on a secret mission. He was now here from that mission to report the result. He was dressed similarly to his father in black pants, ultra shiny black boots, royal blue silk shirt, and a black surcoat with a silver unicorn on it. His eyes roamed the room and took in the other generals and admirals from the space fleet, gathered to give their reports and find out what was so important for them to be here for this council meeting.

On King Axlor’s left hand side was General Kass. Kass was Axlor’s most trusted advisor. He had served in the Boulthorian military for nearly sixty years. He was extremely loyal to Axlor and would follow any order from him no matter what it might be. Next to Kass sat General Tork. Tork was tall and had a slim build, yet he had proved that he was as tough and strong as any man with twice his bulk. In combat he was lethal and savage. He cared only about gaining another victory for Boulthora, regardless of the cost. Next was Yong, a nobler general. He was more